Wood-splitting machine



il ze 1927. Apr c. RAsMussEN WOOD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1926 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WOOD-SPLITTING MACHINE.

Application led February 19, 1926.

This invention relates to machines for splitting logs of'timber; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of a wood splitting machine constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the weight and blade, showing the guide bars in cross-section.

Two crossbars 6 are provided, and are supported at one end by a single leg 7 and at the other end by a pair of legs 8 arranged at an angle to each other and provided with braces 9. The tripod frame thus formed has two parallel guide bars 10 suspended from the top crossbars 6, and arranged so that their bottom ends will clear the largest log to be split. A suitably offset brace l2 couples the bottom ends of the two guides together. Guide sheaves 14: are `iournaled in the frame on suitable pins l5, and a iiexible member 16, such as a cord, is supported by these sheaves.

A weight 18 is secured to one end of the cord, and is slidable vertically in the guide bars lO. The sides of the weight are `grooved so as to enga-ge with the guide bars, and a sharp blade 20 is Secured in a socket in the lower part of the weight. The weight is made of such a length that it does not wholly slide ont of the guide bars in the act of splitting a log. Any suitable means is provided 'for raising the weight,

Serial No. 89,364.

such as a winch, or a motor, or the cord can be pulled by hand.

The log to be split is placed on the ground under the guide bars when the weight is raised, and the log,` is split by allowing the weighted blade to fall upon it.

The tripod form of frame gives the machine the necessary stability, and aiords free access to the log. The machine is simple and inexpensive to construct, and is not liable to get out of order.

Vhat I claim is:

l. A machine for splitting wood, comprising, two substantially horizontal crossbars spaced apart, supports secured to the end portions of the crossbars, two vertical guide bars arranged parallel to each other and suspended from the crossbars between their end portions with the bottom ends of the guide bars clear of the ground, a weighted blade slidable between the guide bars and free to project below their bottom ends when lowered, guide sheaves mounted on the crossbars, and a flexible lifting `device supported by the said sheaves and connected to the weighted blade.

2. A machine for splitting wood as set forth in claim l, the said supports comprising a single leg at one end portion of the crossbars, and a pair of legs at the other end portion, said pair ot legs having crossbraces between them.

Tn testimony whereof lf have affixed my signature.

CARL RASMUSSEN. 

